The Yoruba Ni Colorado (YNC), a prominent diaspora organization representing Yoruba people in the U.S. state of Colorado, has declared firm support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that there is “no vacancy in Aso Rock” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group made this declaration on Tuesday during a working visit to the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) in Abuja, where it also criticized the mobilization of opposition forces under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Dr. Adetola Obiwole, President of YNC, said the delegation was in Nigeria with a medical team to provide healthcare services to underserved communities and reaffirm their support for President Tinubu’s administration.
She used the occasion to call on the National Assembly to amend the constitution to allow Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in national elections through diaspora voting, a long-standing demand of many Nigerian expatriates.
“We restate our unalloyed support for the president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and we are using this medium to urge the National Assembly to speed up work on legislations that would guarantee diaspora voting,” Obiwole said.
Also speaking, YNC’s General Secretary, Prince George Sotade, underscored the widespread backing Tinubu enjoys among Nigerians living abroad, particularly within the Yoruba community in the U.S.
“We don’t need to talk too much. There is no vacancy in the Villa. Anybody running around is just doing that to bring more votes for us, for Asiwaju,” he stated. “This visit is to let the world know that the Yoruba nation in the U.S. and, by extension, all Nigerians in the U.S., are behind Asiwaju.”
Receiving the group, Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai, Director General of the Tinubu Support Group, expressed appreciation for their patriotism and commitment to giving back to their homeland.
He commended the YNC for its contributions to Nigeria despite residing abroad, contrasting them with some Nigerians who, after relocating, lose touch with their roots. “Some Nigerians, when they travel, forget home and don’t want to associate with the rest of us here,” he said.
Yakasai also praised the group for its past support, particularly during the 2023 presidential election, noting their consistency and dedication to national development.
He encouraged diaspora-based Nigerians to mobilize and return home to vote, emphasizing that “every vote counts,” especially in consolidating the gains of the current administration.
In a broader appeal, Yakasai urged medical professionals in the diaspora to create mentorship programs for their counterparts in Nigeria, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and reduce medical tourism.
